Two thirds of care facilities have at least one resident on antibiotics, Boots finds

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Research carried out by Boots UK has found that two thirds of long term care facilities (LTCF) have a least one resident on antibiotics.

The research aims to help provide additional support for care facilities from community pharmacists through identifying potential gaps in knowledge and support when using antibiotics.

Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist at Boots UK, said: “The results of this survey show there is a role for pharmacy teams working in collaboration within the LTCF environment to provide a greater focus on antimicrobial stewardship, supporting the national ambition to reduce inappropriate prescribing by 50% by 2021.

“This should include ongoing training and support for carers on self-care for residents, such as practical advice on how to support residents in taking antibiotics such as timings and dose form.”

Residents in LTCFs are associated with higher rates of antibiotics use, particularly for urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are frequently associated with antibiotic resistant organisms that can lead to treatment failure and blood stream infections.

NHS improvement schemes in England currently focus on reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by 50% by 2021, and improving the primary care management of UTIs to reduce the risk of E.coli blood stream infections.

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